U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service
in the Midwest

Habitat Conservation

Project Planning and Permits

The U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service is the voice for our nation's fish and wildlife
resources and their habitats. We work with Federal construction agencies
during project planning, permitting, and construction to ensure that impacts
to our natural resources are avoided, minimized, and mitigated.

Fish and Wildlife Service biologists work with project proponents to design dredging operations that minimize impacts to riverine ecosystems where the dredging occurs and to the terrestrial areas where the dredged material is placed.

Some of the
types of Federal projects that we review include highway construction,
cell towers, mining, energy development, flood control, and navigation.
All of these projects provide public benefits but they can also harm the
environment without adequate thought and planning. When fish and wildlife
resources are an included perspective during planning, impacts can be
eliminated, reduced, and mitigated. For example, impacts from highway
construction can be minimized by taking the least destructive alignment,
minimizing rights-of-way, and including erosion control measures. The
result is cleaner water and more natural areas for fish, wildlife, and
us.

If you have questions about our review of specific Federal Projects, please contact our Field Office in the state of interest.